Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Sounds of the City

Mexico City has a unique soundscape. Rather than the howl of sirens and buzz of traffic so common to urban areas, the air here is filled with the clatter of a thousand different noises. A large handbell marks the passing of the garbage truck, a loud steam whistle the arrival of a food cart. The morning stillness is broken by the singsong call of "gasssssssss, hay gasssssss," and tamale vendors on three-wheeled pedal carts play a standardized recording through tinny speakers... 'acércanse y piden sus ricos tamales oaxaqueños'... Wandering bands of musicians blare on honking trumpets and bang loud drums, while groups of Cuban musicians tap out classic boleros at street markets.

About Me

I am a freelance photographer and Ph.D. Candidate in the UC San Diego Department of History. Currently, I am conducting research in Mexico on a Fulbright-Hays grant. I can be contacted at: lettieri.michael (at) gmail.com